Tech Watch

Jun 1, 2008 12:00 PM

Biometric access systems are becoming high-demand technologies for users who require highly accurate, quick and almost foolproof identity verification. Some of the latest systems verify in under a second using vein and vascular patterns on the hand, facial feature analysis and more.

Multispectral Fingerprint Imager

REDUCES AND ELIMINATES ENROLLMENT PROBLEMS AND FALSE REJECTIONS

Lumidigm's Venus Series Biometric Sensors capture accurate, 500-dpi images using the company's multispectral technology, which exposes the fingerprint surface and subsurface at the same time using multiple wavelengths of light. Sensors capture clear, clean images with each use, including at times when fingerprint surface features are absent or hard to distinguish due to age, dirt, moisture, finger pressure, and skin or environmental conditions. According to Lumidigm, current fingerprint biometric technologies have an error rate of up to 16 percent, and the multispectral imaging sensor can reduce inadequate fingerprint images to less than 1 percent. The system's multispectral technology also eliminates fake and “spoof” fingerprint attempts. Venus Series Biometric Sensors, Lumidigm (lumidigm.com) Circle No. 1 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Outdoor Fingerprint Biometric Terminal

REQUIRES NO ADDITIONAL HOUSING FOR OUTDOOR USE

Sagem Morpho's Outdoor MorphoAccess 520 Series is an integrated, self-contained biometric terminal designed for outdoor physical access control. The unit is weatherized to meet IP65 standards. The multi-factor authentication terminal integrates Sagem Morpho's MorphoSmart fingerprint sensor to perform verification in less than one second. A PIN keypad and smart card reader are also included. The system manages up to 10,000 records in identification mode, with a maximum storage capacity of 50,000 records when dispersed over five databases. Physical security features of the unit include tamper and antitheft switches with terminal resident relays and security enclosure screws. The system offers Ethernet, USB and RS-422 physical access control system connectivity options. An additional model integrates an optronic sensor for fake finger detection, a desirable feature for environments where the terminal is left unsupervised. Outdoor MorphoAccess 520 Series, Sagem Morpho (morpho.com) Circle No. 2 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Facial Recognition Biometric System

PERFORMS LIVE VERIFICATION OF ID PHOTOS WITH A HIGH-RESOLUTION DIGITAL CAMERA

FaceCheck Verify from Cross Match Technologies combines intelligent ID photo capture with face verification technology. A high-resolution digital camera captures portrait images through the company's FaceSnap Recorder system. The camera locates the face, crops and corrects the image for maximum biometric usability. Upon capturing a photo, the system measures the biometric similarity of the image against the stored image of an enrolled user and generates a match or no match. Enrolled user images are stored in a database or on a chip card. The verification process is automatic, enabling an operator to visually monitor the system's use. The system also records a data file for future reference. FaceCheck Verify, Cross Match Technologies (crossmatch.com) Circle No. 3 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Biometric Face Reader

FOR HANDS-FREE ACCESS CONTROL

Bioscrypt's next generation VisionAccess 3D Face Reader authenticates users in under a second for hands-free, secure access. It features a real-time 3D surface scanner that works in invisible and harmless near-infrared light to capture the entire facial surface structure of a person's face for verification. The reader's ergonomic design promotes quick and easy user-positioning. A glance in the direction of the reader from 3 to 6 ft. away is typically all that is needed for authentication. The reader works with existing physical access control systems and interfaces with a range of other readers, including magnetic stripe, Wiegand, proximity and smart card. An integrated LCD screen is included for user input and feedback. As an updated capability, the reader can now store up to 60,000 templates for large facility deployments and is Ethernet-ready for network connectivity. VisionAccess 3D Face Reader, Bioscrypt (bioscrypt.com) Circle No. 4 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Vascular Pattern Biometric Scanner

CAN BE CONFIGURED TO OPERATE IN STANDALONE OR NETWORKED ENVIRONMENTS

The VP-II Scanner from Identica Corp. uses passive infrared technology to capture an individual's vascular pattern from below the surface of the skin on the back of the hand. The touchless, quick and accurate process allows for a unique personal template to be captured, encrypted and stored. For verification, an individual presents his or her hand to the scanner and the live vascular pattern is matched to a stored template, identifying the individual in one-tenth of a second. Users can store their personal template on media such as a smart card or the network, when used in conjunction with the company's T-Module. With a smart card, the scanner biometrically verifies the user with the stored template on the card. If the template is stored on the network, the user either keys in a PIN or presents a proximity card and then presents his or her hand for identification. The vascular pattern is compared to the network-stored template for identity verification. Vascular VP-II, Identica Corp. (identicacorp.com) Circle No. 5 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

Identity Verification System

USES VEIN PATTERN RECOGNITION

Snowflake Technologies recently unveiled a prototype of its vein pattern recognition VPR identity verification system. Planned for market launch later this year, the Enterprise Biometrics system uses VPR to scan the subcutaneous vein patterns on an individual's hand. During a second-long scan, the system generates a numeric key, which is used to enroll and then verify the person when he or she returns for access. The system works because, like a snowflake, no two vein patterns are alike. Benefits include user-friendliness, touchless operation, quick verification, high accuracy and easy integration into business systems. Brad Silver, vice president of product development for Snowflake Technologies, says the system offers privacy and is virtually foolproof. “Forget PINS, signatures and photo IDs. You always have everything you need to confirm your identity, and it's just below the skin's surface,” Silver says. Enterprise Biometrics, Snowflake Technologies (snowflaketechnologies.com) Circle No. 6 or visit securitysolutions.com/productinfo.

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© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

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